It Takes a Village to Make a Musical: Behind the Scenes of STOA
By Alivia C. Tagliaferri
Just like in the story itself, STOA: A New Musical Journey is coming to life through creativity and collaboration.
From the earliest drafts to our upcoming stage debut, this project has grown thanks to a community that believes in the power of storytelling, music, and connection.
A Creative Team Rooted in Heart
The creative team behind STOA is made up of extraordinary people who bring this story to life with artistry, warmth, and heart.
Sarah Keely Decker, Music Director & Composer, and Jared Whitford, Director and Producer, workshopping STOA: A New Musical Journey at Lycoming College, summer of 2023.
Jared Whitford — Director & Producer
STOA is directed and produced by Jared Whitford, a talented theatre artist from Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Born and raised here, Jared studied theatre in Pittsburgh and has become a creative force both locally and throughout the region. He works with Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble and Lycoming College, and leads a theatre arts program in South Williamsport.
Along the East Coast, Jared continues to direct and design for regional theatres — developing new works, reimagining classics, and creating original shows that connect with audiences on many levels.
I’ve known Jared for several years and always hoped to work with him. When I began writing the first script, one note on my to-do list simply read: Finish script. Call Jared.
And Jared being Jared — when a good creative opportunity appears, he always answers the call.
Sarah Keely Decker — Music Director & Composer
STOA’s musical direction comes from Sarah Keely Decker, a gifted musician, teacher, and music therapist.
Sarah co-wrote and co-composed several of the show’s key songs, including “Tree Talk,” a tender ballad sung when STOA asks for help to reconnect with her cub. Her joyful and unforgettable rendition of “Every Day” will stay with you long after the performance ends.
Sarah and I connected right away — as creative professionals, as mothers, and as women who believe deeply in the healing power of music.
She listened to the rough melodies I’d recorded on my phone, softly sang them back, and lightly tapped the table to keep time. She would nod with a knowing smile and say, “Ah, got it now.”
By our next gathering, those rough tracks had become full compositions — layered, emotional, and magical.
We first met at Alabaster, and later continued our sessions in her beautiful home just blocks from where I grew up, sunlight filtering through the music room, the piano close by.
In that space, I knew Sarah was meant to be part of this story.
And she knew it too.
Bringing a Story from Page to Stage
From the very beginning, STOA has been a labor of love.
In the early stages, I was lucky to workshop the first drafts of the script with friends whose feedback, laughter, and encouragement helped shape the story’s heart.
I’m especially grateful to Ann House, Angela Miele, Tonya Anderson, Dee Roan, April Mingos, Tammy Roupp, Mary Woods, and Carol Lynn Meckley for lending their time, voices, and creativity during those first readings.
The visual world of STOA is being brought to life by graphic artist Abbey Kostyal, whose original illustrations capture the warmth, wonder, and spirit of this musical journey.
You can explore her beautiful work at abbeykostyal.com.
We’re also thrilled to have David Miller, a South Williamsport Area High School graduate and current music major at Ithaca College, orchestrating a six-piece arrangement for the show. David’s thoughtful approach and musical precision add a bright new dimension to STOA’s sound — one that bridges emotion with the joy of live performance.
And behind the scenes, Sarah Feaster of RipKey Strategic Marketing Solutions has been helping bring STOA’s story to audiences across digital spaces.
Sarah and I have collaborated on professional projects for years, and this marks the first time we’ve partnered on an independent creative venture together. She’s the driving force behind our STOA Newsletter and helps keep me grounded and on track with these blog updates and our social media storytelling. Her expertise, creativity, and strategic insight have helped shape how the world experiences this musical online — ensuring that STOA’s message of connection continues to grow and bloom beyond the stage.
Together, this team of writers, musicians, designers, and community members is helping bring STOA from the page to the stage — a collaboration built on care, imagination, and the belief that stories can inspire us all.
Community Support and Early Sponsors
At its core, STOA is a community story and a community effort.
From the first workshop to the melodies now being rehearsed, this project has grown because of people who believed in it from the very start.
We’re deeply grateful to the Williamsport and surrounding communities for rallying behind this homegrown musical.
Your encouragement has been the soil that helps this story take root.
Our team has shared STOA with groups like the Williamsport Kiwanis Club and Williamsport Rotary Club, showing how this musical celebrates connection, growth, and hope.
The support we’ve received — from sponsorships and pledges to kind words and introductions — reminds us that art flourishes when a community stands behind it.
Every conversation, every handshake, and every “You can do this” has mattered.
Alivia Tagliaferri presenting STOA: A New Musical Journey to members of Williamsport Kiwanis Club in August 2025.
The Sound of STOA, Event Recap
On October 26, our community came together for The Sound of STOA, an evening that beautifully reflected everything this musical stands for: creativity, connection, and community.
Hosted at Tag’s Take Out, this fundraising event brought story and song to life as we took another step toward STOA’s premiere in January 2026. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from Tag’s, met members of our creative team, and discovered how their support helps bring this original children’s musical to the stage.
A highlight of the evening was a heartfelt performance by Sarah Keely Decker, who shared songs that capture the heart and hope of the story. Joining her were two of our young actors, Wesley Thompson and Greyson Pham, whose voices filled the room with joy and promise — a glimpse into the magic that awaits audiences when STOA debuts.
More than a fundraiser, The Sound of STOA was a celebration of the people who make creativity possible — the friends, families, and supporters who remind us that every great story grows stronger when it’s shared together.
The cast and creative team of STOA singing "Every Day" at The Sound of STOA fundraising event at Tag's Take Out, October 2025.
A Musical for All Ages
STOA is a story for everyone.
Written for children, parents, grandparents, and caregivers alike, this original musical invites audiences of all ages to rediscover the wonder of nature and the strength of connection.
Through story and song, it reminds us that love, friendship, and courage are the ties that bind us.
Whether you’re six or sixty, STOA offers a journey that feels both personal and universal — a story to be shared, sung, and remembered.
Coming Next Week
The journey is only beginning.
In the months ahead, the creative team and I will continue highlighting the artists, students, and community partners shaping this production.
Next week, we’ll feature a guest post from Director and Producer Jared Whitford, who will share a director’s view on what it truly takes to bring a musical to life — along with a behind-the-scenes look at our casting progress, set design, and musical orchestrations now underway.
Because behind every great story are the people who nurture it — one act, one song, and one connection at a time.
When we say it takes a village to make a musical, we mean it. And we’re so grateful you’re part of ours.